10/04/2026
Intention. What does it mean to you as a massage therapist?
I’ve been reading massage pages on social media and have seen therapists mention listening to podcasts while they massage. It made me think about what is going on in my own mind while I’m working.
When my hands are on a body, I’m searching for differences in the tissue—tightness, softness, temperature and texture. I’m watching the skin for changes in color. I’m thinking about movement and possible dysfunction. I’m watching the client’s face and body for subtle reactions.
All of that information determines what I do next.
It reminds me of driving in Los Angeles rush-hour traffic. 😂 You have to pay attention to about 14 things at once because any one of them might change what you do next.
That’s why I don’t give exactly the same massage twice. I have a general framework, but the body in front of me determines where we go.
So I’m genuinely curious about listening to podcasts while working. I’m not saying it’s wrong—I wonder about the division of attention. If part of my brain is following a podcast, could that be the part I needed at that moment to notice something or make a connection?
And there is a wonderful gratification in paying that much attention. You get to notice change happening under your hands. You learn what worked, what didn’t, and what you might try next. The client benefits from that attention, but so do we—it keeps the work interesting, challenges us to keep learning, and makes each massage a little bit of discovery.
For me, intention is being present enough to notice, curious enough to question what I’m finding, and willing to let what I find determine what happens next.
What does intention look like in your practice?
